How can I use technology to support my current practices?



Curriculum
How to use the BHS English curriculum web site
(requires membership to the site AND a google sites account)

Reading Activities
How to make a map of a literary character's journey: Google Lit Trips
Some good sites for helping kids find books for outside reading:

GoodReads.com
Lists of award winners from the Brookline Public Library (will require a library card)
TeenReads.com

Mobile Libraries--information about on-line texts: what's available, what's useful, what's coming soon


Writing Activities
A great tool for brainstorming
Thinklinkr: An outlining tool that can also be used to collaborate on outlines
How to create an on-line peer sharing and editing site using Ning Groups
How to write a novel on Twitter
How to write a cellphone novel
20+ great ways to use simple, on-line tools for creative writing--very imaginative


Posting homework assignments and other materials
How to create your OWN web site: Google Sites and Wikispaces
Directions for using the BHS weblab


Search Engines (other than Google)
RefSeek--a search engine that is specifically designed for students and educators. Not nearly as academic as Google Scholar but still does a good job of filtering commercial sites. You can also try SweetSearch, which is a similar service that's more oriented towards high school and elementary school students.
SlideFinder--a search engine that finds slides from PowerPoint presentations that have been posted all over the web.

PowerPoint
PowerPoint resources
How to find other PowerPoint presentations that others have made; Here's a list of five search engines that will help you find slide shows that others have posted on the web (for you to use, modify, or borrow from)
Other (non-PowerPoint) presentation tools: Prezi, ThinkFree, and lots of others

Video
How to find short videos to show in class: Edublog and TeacherTube
Can't find it on YouTube? Here are 30+ other options
Tips for shooting and editing video

Grammar
BHS Grammar site (open to students)
Grammar quizzes (not open to students--ask Elon for membership)
U. of Washington On-line writing lab
Purdue On-line writing lab
Grammar Bytes ("Grammar with attitude")

Vocabulary

Quizlet--a neat site that lets users create on-line (and actual) flash cards and on-line self-quizzes
Memorize--another cool site for creating flash cards and other memory-learning devices

Other tools
How to create polls for your class

Some websites with other resources:

  1. Kathy Schrock's guide for educations--perhaps the most comprehensive educator site on the web